Gas-meter.



No. 640,974. Patented Jan. 9, I900.

J. C. SUTHERLAND.

G A S M E T E R (Application filed May 2, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheat I.

(No, Model.)

IN VENTOI? WITNESSES.

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No. 640,974. Patented Ian. 9, I900. J. C. SUTHERLAND.

GAS METER.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.)

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No. 640,974 Patented Jan. 9, I900. J. c. SUTHERLANIJ.

GAS METER.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3..

ATTORNEYS 0 0 n a l. d 8 l n B a P l N A L on E H U S Q 4 7 D 4 6 N GAS METER.

(Application filed May 2. 18996,

4 Shets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES COOPER SUTI-IERLAND, OF ERDINGTON, ENGLAND.

GAS-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,974, dated January 9, 1900. Application filed May 2, 1899. Serial No. 715,356. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itkn own that I, JAMES COOPER SUTHnR- LAND, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Oopely Hill, Erdington, in the county of Warwick, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Meters, (for which I have made application for Letters Patent in Great Britain, N 0. 22,041, dated October 19, 1898,) of which the followingis aspecification.

My invention relates to gas-meters and its object is to produce an effective and simple meter having great capacity for small bulk, absorbing a minimum amount of energy, easily operated at low gas-pressure, and free from the disadvantages of the ordinary wet and dry gas-meters.

My invention consists in a gas-meter having a radially-movable diaphragm or diaphragms forming the measuringdevice,which radially-movable diaphragm or diaphragms is or are furnished with projections to pass into a space formingaliquid seal. The chamber produced by the diaphragm and the part projecting into the liquid seal is balanced internally by a balance-weight operating within the casing forming the seal. The chambers communicate with valves actuated from a rotating spindle operated by the diaphragms when driven by the gas to be measured. Oil is preferably used for the purpose of the seal.

Referring to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, Figure 1 shows diagrammatically an elevation, partly in section, of one form of the meter; and Fig. 2 shows a sectional elevation of the same, the section being taken on the line X Y, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation with the outside part of the metercase removed and showing the method of obtaining rotary motion for operating the distributing-valves and recording-train. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on the line S T of Fig. 3. It shows the distributing slide-valves and their connections.

In carrying myinvention into effect according to one modification I provide two moving chambers a and b, pivoted at opposite sides at a and b and the one placed above the other in order to take up the minimum of space.

These moving chambers operate within fixed chambers c and d, one above the other and divided one from the other by a suitable partition-plate 6. Each moving chamber operates from ahorizontal pivot or axle and moves to and fro through any convenient are, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The side edges of the chamber dip into recesses a and b respectively. The front edges a and b are struck from the center of oscillation, and the oil seals at these parts are preferably made of the same curvature. The back edge near the axle dips into a shallower continuation of the oil or other liquid seal. The chamber thus moves up and down in the liquid seal, furnishing a perfectly gas-tight joint. Within the oil or other liquid channel forming the seal I provide inclosures a and b containing balance-weights a and b pivoted upon levers a and b. At one end the levers communicate by links a and b with the upper parts of the moving chambers a and b, respectively, and at the other end the levers hold the balance-weights a and 79 The chambers containing the balance-weights are open to the inner side of the moving chambers, respectively. A passage f (see Figs. 2, 3, and 4.) leads from the inner side of the upper chamber a to the port f at one end of the valve f. Another passage f leads from the outside of the moving chamber a to the port f at the other end of the same valve. The center port f communicates with the outlet-pipe h of the meter, and the chamber Z over the valve is connected to the gasinlet pipe o. Both chambers are similarly arranged with corresponding passages. Thus the inner side of the lower chamber 1) is connected to the port g at one end of the valve 9 by the passage 9. Another passage 9 leads from the outside of the moving chamber 12 to the port 9 at the other end of the valve g. The center port 9 similarly communicates with the outlet-pipe h of the meter, and the chamber 1 over the valve 9 is also connected to the gas-inlet pipe 2'.

The oscillating axles a. and b are provided with leversj and 10, respectively, at their outer ends, and these levers connect by links j and to a crank-pin Z upon a crank-disk m. The connection is so made that the two chambers operate at right angles to each other on the crank-pin. They thus provide a. driving force operating at all times around the circle, as in a dry meter. The crank-disk drives a bevel-wheeln, which gears into another bevelwheel 11 and operates a vertical shaft 0. The vertical shaft 0 is thus rotated, and by a crankpin, such as p, or eccentric or other connection it actuates the two slide-valves f and g, connecting the ports, which are arranged as in steam-engine ports. Each slide-valve operates the three ports exactly as in the steamengine. When gas is passed through the meter, it actuates the two moving chambers a and b, causing each chamber to alternately rise and fall, admitting gas on one side and discharging it on the other alternately.

By my invention, owing to the diaphragm Working radially and my special arrangement of, parts, the meter operates with a minimum of friction, measures with great accuracy, and causes only a very small fall of gas-pressure. This meter I find will operate with a pressure of about three-tenths of an inch of water. The horizontal oscillating spindles a and b are packed in any usual manner, and supply and discharge plugs q and r are arranged to fill in oil or other liquid required for the purpose of the liquid seal.

Indicating mechanism of any usual type is driven from the moving diaphragms and shows the gas passed through the meter.

My invention may be carried into effect in various ways. For example, the balanceweights may be connected by other systems of linkage to the moving chambers without departing from my invention; but one main feature consists in radially-movin g chambers applied as described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a gas-meter, the combination with fixed gas-chambers such as c of pivoted dou- 4o ble-acting measuring-diaphragms such as a adapted to move radially in said fixed chambers, each of the said diaphragms having a liquid seal and an internal balancing system having a weighted lever such as a and connecting-links such as a, substantially as described.

2. In a gas-meter, the combination of gasmeasuring chambers formed by outer fixed chambers and inner, liquid-sealed, radiallymoving, internally-balanced diaphragms, with distributing-valves operated from the said'diaphragms, said valves being designed to supply gas alternately to opposite sides of the said diaphragms, substantially as described.

3. In a gas-meter, the combination of gasmeasuring chambers formed by outer fixed chambers, and pivoted, radially-moving double-acting diaphragms, provided with liquid seals and internal balancing means, with distributing-valves and indicating means, substantially as described.

4:. In a gas-meter, the combination of gasmeasuring chambers formed by outer fixed chambers and pivoted, radially-moving, diaphragms provided with liquid seals, and internal balancing means, arms on the diaphragms pivots connected by links to a crank giving rotary motion from which the distributing-valves and indicating mechanism are driven, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES COOPER SUTHERLAND.

Witnesses:

HERBERT BoWKETT, J. D. MORGAN. 

